News Summary: S&P 500 edges higher to set record

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Last Updated: Thu, Mar 28, 2013 22:15 hrs

'S A RECORD: The Standard & Poor's 500 index edged six points higher to close at a record 1,569.16, surpassing its previous all-time high of 1,565.15 logged in October 2007. Including dividends, the index has returned 152 percent since it bottomed out in March 2009 during the Great Recession.

LAST DAY OF THE QUARTER: With markets shut for the Good Friday holiday, Thursday's trading session marked the end of the first quarter for stocks. The Dow Jones industrial average finished the quarter 11.3 percent higher, and the S&P 500 was up 10 percent.

BLING: Signet Jewelers rose 5.9 percent to $67 after reporting that its net income rose 10 percent. Sales were boosted by its acquisition of the Ultra jewelry store chain and as customers made more purchases at its U.S. Kay and Jared stores. The performance exceeded the expectations of Wall Street analysts.